Ogunbowale’s Record Night Lifts Dallas Past Valkyries 108-100 in Overtime/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points as the Dallas Wings defeated the Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime Wednesday. Her off-balance corner 3-pointer tied the game with 4.1 seconds left in regulation before she delivered two more crucial triples in overtime. The victory forced a deciding Game 3 Friday night in San Francisco, with a semifinal berth at stake.
Quick Look
- Playoff scoring record: Ogunbowale finished with 45 points, surpassing her previous overall career high of 41.
- Season-saving shot: Her corner 3-pointer tied the score at 93 with 4.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
- Efficient shooting: She went 12 of 23 from the field, 5 of 8 from 3-point range and 16 of 18 at the foul line.
- Overtime takeover: Ogunbowale scored 11 points in the extra period, including the 3-pointer that put Dallas ahead for good.
- Bueckers provides key assists: Paige Bueckers scored 10 points and assisted on the tying basket and Ogunbowale’s first overtime 3.
- Williams leads Golden State: Gabby Williams scored a career-high 36 points.
- Supporting contributions: Alysha Clark scored 21 points for Dallas, while Aziaha James added 13.
- Deciding game: The teams meet Friday night in San Francisco after Golden State won the opener by 24 points.
Deep Look
Ogunbowale Delivers Historic Performance to Keep Dallas Alive
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA postseason-record 45 points Wednesday night, leading the Dallas Wings to a 108-100 overtime victory over the Golden State Valkyries.
The win evened their first-round series and forced a deciding Game 3 Friday night in San Francisco.
Golden State, which won the opener by 24 points, is seeking its first playoff series victory in the franchise’s second season. Dallas is pursuing its second semifinal appearance in six postseason trips since moving to the area in 2016.
Bueckers Finds the Hot Hand for a Season-Saving Basket
With Dallas trailing by three in the closing seconds of regulation, Paige Bueckers directed Ogunbowale to get open rather than move away from the play.
Bueckers passed to her backcourt partner near the left baseline. Ogunbowale dribbled toward the corner and made an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game at 93 with 4.1 seconds remaining.
The basket preserved the Wings’ season and set up an overtime period in which Ogunbowale continued to control the scoring.
Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year, was playing in her first playoff series.
Aggressive Approach Pays Off After Quiet Series Opener
Ogunbowale’s record-setting night followed a Game 1 performance in which she scored 10 points on only seven shot attempts.
In Game 2, the four-time All-Star made 12 of 23 field-goal attempts, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, and converted 16 of 18 free throws.
“We felt like we got pushed around out there when we played in San Francisco and especially me personally I don’t feel like I was aggressive,” said Ogunbowale. “I didn’t know what I would score. I was going to shoot regardless because I just feel like seven shots isn’t enough to win playoffs and I have to be aggressive whether it’s going in or not.”
She comfortably surpassed her previous playoff high of 24 points.
Replay Reversal Leaves Regulation Tied
After Ogunbowale’s tying shot, Golden State called a timeout and attempted to inbound the ball.
Gabby Williams was initially charged with an offensive foul, which would have given Dallas’ Aziaha James an opportunity to take the lead at the free-throw line.
Replay overturned the call, resulting in a jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds remaining.
A scramble followed, and Golden State’s desperation attempt missed badly and came after the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
Ogunbowale Takes Command in Overtime
Ogunbowale opened the extra period with a banked 3-pointer off another Bueckers assist.
Later, she made the decisive triple that put Dallas ahead 103-100 with 1:46 remaining. That basket also lifted her past her previous overall career high of 41 points.
She scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and another 11 in overtime, accounting for 22 points across the game’s final two periods.
Bueckers Contributes Despite Difficult Shooting Night
Bueckers finished with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting and recorded four assists.
Her struggles included an air ball on a 3-point attempt with Dallas down three during the final two minutes of regulation. Nevertheless, her passes helped create two of Ogunbowale’s most important baskets.
“For us to do what we did today without Paige having the type of game that she always has offensively for us, to come out with a win is huge,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “We had other people step up.”
Alysha Clark matched her playoff career high with 21 points, while James contributed 13.
Williams Sets Career High but Golden State Fades Late
Williams led the Valkyries with 36 points, her highest total in either a regular-season or playoff game.
She finished 12 of 23 from the field but missed all six of her attempts during the final 1:31 of overtime.
Kaila Charles added 14 points for Golden State, and Kayla Thornton scored 13.
The Valkyries made only 2 of 12 shots in the extra period, leaving them unable to match Dallas’ late surge.
Flagrant Fouls Precede Dallas’ Decisive Run
With the score tied at 98 in overtime, Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes made contact and had to be separated.
Both received flagrant fouls and each converted two free throws with 2:26 remaining, bringing the score to 100-100.
Golden State did not score again. Ogunbowale’s subsequent 3-pointer gave Dallas a lead it retained through the finish.
Valkyries Turn Attention to Home Decider
Golden State will return home with another opportunity to advance, while Dallas arrives with momentum from Ogunbowale’s historic performance.
“We got one at home, and we got to bring our best,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “That was not our best. Tomorrow’s got to be clear minds, clear focus, clear game plan, and then be ready to go for the game at home.”
Friday’s winner will move into the semifinals.
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